As a result of a police investigation that began this past November, the former Fire Commissioner for the Province of Manitoba is facing numerous forgery charges.
In November 2012, the D Division Financial Integrity Unit received a forensic audit report from the Provincial Comptroller for the Government of Manitoba. The audit, which had been completed by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), outlined allegations of irregular financial activities that occurred within the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) between June 2009 and February 2011.
The RCMP investigation identified accountable advances and/or expense claims which were believed to have been supported by documents which had been fabricated and or forged. The result being that in excess of $55,000 was disbursed as unsupported payments with the ultimate beneficiary being the former Fire Commissioner for the Province of Manitoba.
As a result of the investigation, Christopher Jones, the former Fire Commissioner for the Province of Manitoba, is facing numerous forgery charges as well as breach of trust by a public officer.
Jones has been released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in court in Winnipeg on February 26, 2014.
